NZ Opera’s production of Puccini’s masterpiece looks and sounds lovely, but would it work better in a different space? Operas come with their own assumed cultural cache. Even if the general public – if such a thing exists anymore – isn’t familiar with specific pieces, they at least know that certain operas exist, and that … Read more
A list of the best alternative public holiday ideas in place of celebrating the (fake) birth of King Charles III. This time last year, I wrote about why I was sick of celebrating the birth of the king of New Zealand. Not much has changed. My objections remain the same: colonisation is nothing to celebrate, … Read more
Pam Kilmartin and Alan Gilmore pictured with Mt John’s 1-metre telescope in 2019. Photo: Supplied / Fraser Gunn For 50 years Pam Kilmartin and Alan Gilmore have quietly worked to track asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. The couple, now in their 70s, had contributed detailed observations to international planetary defence programmes, using … Read more
Dr Maxine Ronald is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to breast cancer treatment and research. Photo: SUPPLIED Rugby superstar Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, former Labour Minister Dover Samuels, and waka stalwart Joe Conrad are among the Māori on this years King’s Birthday Honours List. Thirty-one Māori received honours this … Read more
Victor Boyd was credited with drawing attention to the abuse and torture inflicted on approximately 360 children and vulnerable adults at Lake Alice. Photo: PUBLIC DOMAIN./ Pawful A tireless advocate for survivors of abuse in care has dedicated his King’s Birthday Honour to those who suffered. Victor Boyd has spent more than 50 years seeking … Read more
The new Lilo & Stitch formula is simple – remove everything that could possibly offend anyone, replace the personalised hand-drawn animation with expensive, photo-realistic CGI, add in a little slapstick and a Bruno Mars song.
People are being warned not to fall for misinformation or sales pitches from online scammers purporting to offer advice from doctors about diabetes medicines. Photo: 123rf New Zealand doctors have been targeted by scammers pretending to sell treatments for Type 2 diabetes People with Type 2 diabetes have fallen for the scam, buying fake medicines … Read more
Veteran musician Don McGlashan says he gave government minister Chris Bishop a dressing down for what he called a rant by Bishop, during singer Stan Walker’s performance (shown), at the Aotearoa Music Awards on Thursday. Photo: Emma Cooper The producers of the Aotearoa Music Awards have condemned Cabinet Minister Chris Bishop’s comments during Stan Walker’s … Read more
An eclectic assortment of characters turned heads on Queens Wharf in central Auckland on the last weekend of April. The appearance of the visitors in downtown Auckland was something rivalling the diverse collection of characters US director George Lucas assembled at the Mos Eisley cantina in one of the most iconic scenes from the original … Read more
David Seymour speaking to media in Auckland. Photo: MARIKA KHABAZI / RNZ In his first public address since being sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, ACT leader David Seymour reflected on the past decade with supporters at a party event on Sunday. The ACT leader took over the role from Winston Peters … Read more